Improvement in seed-planters



N. PETERS. mfG-LITHOGHAFMER. WASHINGTON. I7A C.

waited' gisten am cna Letters Patent No. 110,706, dated January 1871.

IMPROVEMENT 1N SEEDAPLAN-rsns.

The Schedule referred to inthese Letters Patent:v and making part of thesame.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it -known that I, WILLIAM F. WEST, ofHaverstraw, Rockland county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Planters; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full description of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in arranging and combining, with asulky or two-wheel cart, one or Vmore seed-boxes or hoppers, havingtrunks-leading therefrom for the discharge of the seed, and alternatingslide valves therein operated by means of double-acting levers-securedto a spring-bar arranged above and parallel with the axle of themachine, and operated as it rotates forward by .cams projecting from thesides* of the said axle.

Also, in combining, with the said seed-hoppers and trunks, an adjustableplow and seed-coverer.

Also, in combining, with the adjustable plow and valves for dropping theseed, a double-actingpulley'- cord, chain, or rod, whereby the machinemay be thrown outof use, at thegdiscretion'of the operator, to overcomeobstructions in the track ofthe cart.

Also, in combining, with the said adjustable plows and hoppers andseeding-trunks, an adjustable guiderod or track-marker, so as to guidethe operator in making regular rows of droppings of seed.

But to describe my invention more particularly, I will referto theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, the saineletters of referencewherever they occurA referring tolike parts.

Figure 1. is a plan view of the machine. Figure 2 is afront view of themachine.

Sheet?.

Figure 3 is an end view of the machine .through the line :c x, g. 2sheet1.

Figure 4 is an end view through the line x x, fig. 2, sheet 1, showingthe plow elevated, or thrown out of use, and'the hopper-valves thrownout'of gear with the cams on the 'axis of. the cart.

Figure5 is a plan view ofthe planterytlnough the line x2 x2, g. 2, sheet1.

` secured trunks, F, which project 'downward and forward, so as tofollow in a furrow made bythe plow G, and deposit the seed therein.

'lo do this at regular and proper times, two valves, H, (one above theother,a few inches apart,) are inlsert-ed crosswise of the trunks, andsecured attheii outer ends to a vibrating lever, I, having itscenterpin, J, in the end of a stationary stnd,'K, projecting from theback edge o r side of the plow-holder L.

By this arrangement of the valves they are alter-y natelyoperated fordropping the seed by means of a bar or rod, M, secured to .the upperends of the vibrating levers I and pins or camsN upon the axle B.

,'llius, as the wheels and axle rotate, the cams, in succession, comeagainst the bai` M,Iwhich draws back the upper valve in thehopper-trunk', and pushes in the lower valve therein, upon which theseed falls.

Instantlythat the cams pass the bar the spiral springs P, attached 'tothe bar and the back lower edge ofthe hopper, draw the 'bar back toclose the upper valve, and open the lower one again to let th seed dropdown thetrunk into the furrow. 1

This furrow is made by a plow, G, secured upon a -center-pin in theplow-beam or holder L. The object of this adjustment of the plow on ahinge or centerpin is to admit of its-being elevated so as to overcomeany obstructions to the progress of the machine over the ground.. ,t

For accomplishing thisfobject a cord or chain, R, is secured to thelower front edge of the plows, and vcarried up between the` thills tothe drivers seat S, on top of the hopper-box, so as to be under thecontrol of the driver',"to lift the points of the plows at hisdiscretion; also, connected with .this cord Ris another cord, (D, havingits lower end secured to the bar M, and which is intended to release ordraw it back fromthe action of the cams on the axle B, and at the sametime close the lower valve in the trnnks,'when suspending the operationof the machine for dropping` seed, on passing'V over obstructions, orgoing to.

For the purposeot covering the seed when depos ited in the furrow ascraper or hoe-like device, V, is secured to the back side of the trunksF, of ,such a shape and in such a position as to draw the soil over theseed to insure their germination.

To prcventthe machine from dropping seed when backing, 'racks V areformed on the axle B, into which pawls X, secured to'the bearings G,engage to .leek

the-axle from -rotating backward, and thus cause the wheels t'o slip onthe ground and avoid dropping the seed.

Letter'Yis'a guide or furrowng-rod, arranged so as to be within easyreach of the driver of' the cart, and extending down through the sidesof the seedboxes or lioppers to the ground. The object of this rod is tomark the points of departure, on striking a furrow across a field, andthus enable the driver to keep his rows of seed at uniform distancesapart without the necessity' of dismountiugvfrom'his seat at the end ofeach furrow to assure himself of the fact that. beis seeding down theeld properly and economically.

Letter Z is a foot-rest for the driver, securedv to the front of theseed-box.

Having now described my improved seed-planter, I

axle B, pins N, bar M, lever I, and valves H, withn the trunks F,track-coverer V, hinged plow G, and cords R and T, all made andoperating substantially as described,.and for the purposes hereiubcforeset forth WILLIAM- F. 1WEST.

Witnesses CHARLES L. BARRITT, FRANKmN BARBITT.

